New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-23
TEXAN ELECTION METHODS.
JUDGE KIRK TALKS CoOLLY ABOUT THEM
STATEMENTS THAT HE HAD TO QUALIFY-AsKED TO
PRODUCE his KILOGRAMS

STATEMENTS THAT HE HAD TO QUALIFT-AshhD ~
PRODUCE his TELEGRAMs
WASHINGTON, Feb. % (SpeciaD.-The investiga-
on of the Texas outrages to-day was unusually inter-
estng The burden OF the direct e1amil alton Oh 'hs
witness fell Senator Spooner whose Skull qnes'on
ing ELECTED answers, now quick now re'uc'Ah,
which strongly corroborated the testimony given W
the memorialists and their witnesses. Inc "i'ne''
vas Lafayette Kirk. OF the white Democrats ~no
It is alleged. responsible for the outrages me
had been County Judge. and presided over the court
which counted the ballots in county elections me
report of his testimony Will show the spirit IN whicn
he performed this duty Judge MIX Is man o. o.
"a heh he described the methods and Incidents OF
Democratic political campaign In Texas could not
have been assumed By any man not nau'e ana 10
the manor born"
He faltered once, however Senator Spooner bad
asked him shout the contents OF dispatch sent
him election day. He could not remember an IL
contained, hut thought that be did not direct the
person to whom it addressed to put In his
work"
Have Won any objection to the production OF your
telegramsp quickly asked Mr.. Spooner.
Not VI the committee has them," was the reply.
Placing tablet before the witness; Mr. Spooner
ASKED: awiIl you write order on the telegraph
company for copies CT them" ,..
his dilemma by Senator Eustis. a.,
witness described his action. He was called on
veral times to speak and did speak. declaring IN sub
II
Lockett and shuetxe did not their course OF &C
tom committee should he formed to visit them and
request them to leave the county Their course haa
been designed to the passions ana pteJuoicos
of the coored people against the whites;
On crosse summation the witness said In answer 70
Senator Eustis that the peoples ticket was formed
because .nee the DAYS of reconstruction the taxes had
been excessive There had been deaicatiohs ana III
Vulnerable acts OF mateasance. Tho best ,peopo
thought that they must put in q reform adminsu&
ton In 1885 between seven hundred and eight
hundred citizens of both parties and all shades OF
color asked the people who were elected .wo fears
before to accept renomInaton. The Republlcaps
made war the school teachers who supported the
witness because they pleased with his admins
O~Do you mean to say that these white leaders
tried to in,imidx,e tho negroesi A.-They did ,es
sir and they would bring social influence to bear on
the other negroes and would ostracsa any negroes
who wanted to support the peoples ticket
Mr.. Spooner twarmlyl.--You condemn that great
deal more than You condemn stealing baot-bo5es.
Witness-I condemn stealing ballot boxes ana con-
denim lawlessness in every form
Mr. Spooner with asperityl.-You didn't condemn
II at the meeting when you had first class chance.
the purpose OF tie meeting. 80
The witness testified that he received the following
letter:
hereby notified that are to be shot on tn, nrst
oppotun You are The as mana
pn .A rss ann se II not done by one way
aSSihsf bluff Sa; facts Others may surely s1ct FOL-
Bob sloan negro supporter Of the witness. received
the following note. addressed To the witness care;
DEAR srR NO have got Democratic chickens
and Aige Hunt choice "e expect 10 XII Demo
'WOfOr every one 'hoy have ssd
Yours respectfully DhAp'
The crosse amin alton In regard to county misman-
acement was close In response 10 Senator Spooner,
the witness Acknowledged that about ten years ago
the serip was ror.h hut 40 cents. and that it had
been impioving under Republican control until 1t
6uctuatea between 10 and 80 cents.
Senator Rvar,s then began his examination. In
answer to a request tor eome samples oil social os-
trtcsm practsed against negroes supporting the Dom-
ocratic ticket by Republican negroes, the witness
negroes had laughed and jeeIed at the other negroes
accusing them OF selling out " and bootlicking
the white people.
Senator Evarts--Are these the sevcrcst instances
OF ostrar,Srn You know of personally
Witnees-Ies sir.
The committee adjourned until 10 o'clock to-mor-
row.